You want to build a team that can weather any storm. What’s the first step?

1 Assess your team

Before you can improve your team's problem-solving abilities, you need to know where they stand. How do they approach problems, what tools and methods do they use, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and how do they collaborate and communicate with each other? You can use various tools and techniques to assess your team, such as surveys, interviews, feedback sessions, performance reviews, or problem-solving exercises. The goal is to identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement in your team's problem-solving skills and mindset.

2 Define your goals

Once you have a clear picture of your team's current problem-solving capabilities, you need to set some realistic and measurable goals for improvement. What do you want your team to achieve in terms of problem-solving? How will you measure their progress and success? How will you align their goals with the organization's vision and mission? You can use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to define your goals and communicate them to your team. Make sure your goals are challenging but attainable, and that they reflect the needs and expectations of your team and stakeholders.

4 Encourage collaboration and diversity

One of the most important factors for building a resilient and adaptable team is fostering a culture of collaboration and diversity. You want your team to work together effectively, share ideas and feedback, support each other, and learn from each other. You also want your team to embrace diversity and appreciate the different perspectives, experiences, and skills that each member brings to the table. You can promote collaboration and diversity by creating a safe and inclusive environment, setting clear roles and expectations, facilitating communication and feedback, rewarding teamwork and innovation, and celebrating diversity and inclusion.

5 Model problem-solving behavior

As a leader, you have a significant influence on your team's problem-solving culture. You need to model the behavior that you want to see in your team, such as being curious, creative, analytical, flexible, and proactive. You also need to demonstrate how you apply problem-solving techniques and methods in your own work, such as defining the problem, generating alternatives, evaluating solutions, implementing actions, and reviewing outcomes. By showing your team how you solve problems, you can inspire them, guide them, and motivate them to follow your example and improve their own problem-solving skills.

6 Monitor and evaluate results

The final step in building a resilient and adaptable team is to monitor and evaluate the results of your efforts. You need to track and measure your team's progress and performance in terms of problem-solving, using the indicators and criteria that you defined in your goals. You also need to collect and analyze feedback from your team and stakeholders, to understand their satisfaction, challenges, and suggestions. Based on the data and feedback, you need to adjust your strategy and actions, to ensure that your team is on the right track and achieving the desired outcomes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?